FPL customers pay about $20 million a year toward the company’s industry dues and costs.

A group which says it is a “pro-clean energy think tank” is raising questions about roughly $20 million a year that Florida Power & Light Co. customers pay toward the company’s industry association fees.

The Energy and Policy Institute, based in San Francisco, said some of the associations, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, are involved in attacks on rooftop solar and climate change policies.

Dave Anderson, spokesman for EPI, refused to provide information about who funds the group except to say it is funded by a foundation that works to protect the environment and support clean energy.

FPL has asked the Florida Public Service Commission to continue to allow it to recover the costs as part of a $1.3 billion rate increase it’s seeking for 2017-20.

Florida Public Counsel J.R. Kelly, who represents ratepayers, said that while it’s true that FPL does recover some of its association dues in rates, the company is not allowed to charge customers for anything related to lobbying or political issues.

“This issue was settled many years ago in Commission rate cases,” Kelly said.

FPL spokesman Mark Bubriski said that the group is incorrect in its assertion because it’s ignoring the fact that the majority of the costs are not dues.

“They pay for specific research, grid coordination and other essential work that benefits customers,” Bubriski said.

FPL is already in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan, Bubriski said.

More than half of the 2017 total will go to three groups, Bubriski said.

They are the North American Electric Reliability Corporation at $4.778 million; the Florida Reliability Coordinating Council at $3.398 million, and the Electric Power Research Institute, $2.894 million.

NERC develops and promotes voluntary compliance with rules and protocols for the reliable operation of bulk power electric transmission systems

FRCC’s mission is to ensure that the bulk power system in Florida is reliable, adequate and secure.

EPRI conducts research and development related to the generation, delivery and use of electricity for the benefit of the public.

Some of the other dues FPL collects annually from customers and what they will be per year in 2017-20 include: